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ARCHANGEL MICHAEL COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH <br />COMMUNITY SERVICE BUILDING PROJECT <br />4405 W EDINGER AVE, SANTA ANA, CA 92704 <br /> <br /> 5 <br />45848142;1 <br />In addition to the liturgies during the week, two small community meetings take place -- one for <br />senior citizens and one for women of the parish. These generally occur in the late morning or <br />afternoon between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM. These meetings often entail a service in the Church <br />and afterwards the preparation of a light snack in the kitchen and gathering in the multipurpose <br />room. On evenings, a variety of bible study, hymnal/vesper trainings, choir practice, and parish <br />community meetings take place in the multipurpose room and/or the religious education/ <br />community programing rooms. These generally occur between the hours of 6:00 PM and 10:30 <br />PM on Monday through Saturday. In addition, the parish priests may hold office hours for <br />parishioners within the Church or ancillary office areas any day of the week. In a typical week, <br />the Church and premises are secured at 10:30 PM each night and unlocked at 5:00 AM each <br />morning by the Church’s maintenance staff. <br /> <br />In the new Community Service Building, the religious education and community programing <br />rooms will be used for regular bible study meetings for children from 1st grade through college, <br />typically during the hours of 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM throughout the week. The religious gift shop <br />will sell books, icons, rosaries, audio/visual materials and be open primarily during the hours of <br />10:30 AM to 6:30 PM. The reception area, multipurpose room and commercial kitchen will be <br />available for use by parishioners for either regular meetings such as the senior or women’s <br />group meeting and preparation of related group meals, or for special occasions/receptions such <br />as weddings, baptisms, or funerals.1 <br /> <br />Religious sacraments such as weddings, baptisms, and funerals may also take place within the <br />Church during the week. Wedding may only take place outside of Advent, Lenten, and similar <br />periods during the year, totaling only approximately 20 weeks in a calendar year. Generally, <br />wedding services take place on Saturdays and Sundays and last 2.5 hours. Baptisms and <br />funerals happen year round, except Holy week (Easter week). Baptisms often take place on <br />Saturday before a liturgy. Funerals can take place any day of the week, and last 1.5 hours, <br />typically between the hours of 10:30 AM and 12:00 PM. <br /> <br />In addition to the typical or regular liturgies and sacramental services, the Coptic Orthodox <br />Church is known for its many liturgical services, such as vigils. The Advent (pre-Christmas) <br />period is highlighted by several nightlong vigils. In the spring during Pascha week, which <br />culminates with the Feast of the Resurrection (Easter Sunday), the congregation spends that <br />week's Friday evening and Saturday morning in a long service. Additionally, on occasion <br />throughout the year, nightlong vigils are also undertaken, and such vigils usually end with an <br />early morning Eucharistic liturgy. Vigils reflect traditional and deeply cherished church rites <br />that are centuries old and yet remain a part of a lasting identity of Egyptian Christians in the <br />diaspora. They are a central practice of the Church. In addition, the Church hosts overnight <br />trainings for the deacons within the dioceses four to five times a year. Approximately twenty to <br /> <br />1 Note, absolutely no dancing, smoking or alcohol is permitted on the property, outside of sacramental wine, <br />including during events and celebrations. <br />4-39